Fin vibration damping means



April 2l, 1953 G. H. KELLER 2,635,858

FIN VIBRATION DAMPING MEANS Filed March 51, 195o Z' @ma 1 I I I E man BEUR-EE VVR.

ATTDRNEY Patented Apr. 21, n1953 FIN VIBRATON DAMPNG MEANS George IL Keller, Fair Lawn, N. AJ., assigner to fGurtiss-'Wright Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application 'March 31, 1950, SerialN0.153,267

Claims. (Cl. '25m-2619 This invention relates to 'vibration ydamping means and is lmore particularly directed to means for damping vibration of uns projecting `from a body which is to lbe heated or cooled as a result of the -'iow 4of a heat exchange fluid through the passages Ibetween the fins.

The :cylinders of an air-cooled internal combustion engine `are provided with a plurality of spaced fins projecting therefrom and between which relative 'cool 'air is `caused to flow for cool-d ing theengine. One `of the problems encountered with such cooling 1in structure is that engine vibration may induce destructive resonant vibrations of the fins. An object of lthe present invention comprises Ythe provision of a novel `and simple lmeans of rubber-like material `which can readily `be 'installed between the iins for damping vibration of said fins. As herein used, the term rubber-like material is intended not only to include rubber but also elastomeric compounds as for example the so-called synthetic and silicone rubbers.

In accordance 4with the present invention, a member of rubber-like material is inserted under compression Abetween each pair of fins whereby said members are effective to dampen vibrations of said fins. Each of said members has a portion projecting from one side into a Y'hole in the adjacent iin for holding said -member inposition between said fins. In addition each of said members has a vrecess -on its other side, said recess `being at least as wide and at least as deep as said projecting portion whereby said member can readily be deformed by displacing said pro jecting portion into said recess thereby facilitating insertion of said member 4between and/or 1removalof said member from a pair vvof fins.

Other objects of the invention `will lbecome apparent upon reading the annexed detailed description in connection With the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a vbody having a plurality of heat exchange fins projectingtherefrom, said fins having a series of axially alined holes therethrough;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 with the inn vibra tion damping means ofthe present invention 4installed in position between the ns;

Figure 3 is a perspective view partly in section illustrating one of the fin vibration Adamping members; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but of a modified construction.

Referring now tothe drawing, a body "IU, which may comprise a portion of a cylinder 'head of an internal combustion engine, is provided with a plurality `of substantially parallel heat 4exchange hns 'I2 projecting therefrom and between which a heated fluid, as for example cooling air, is adapted to flow. 11n order to dampen vibration of the fins I2, they are provided with holes I4 extending therethrough inwardly of the outer edges `of said fins. lThese holes may be `provided vby drilling through said ns Yas la lunit structure thereby providing 'an axially alined series of holes as illustrated. `A member jIfB Vof rubber-like material is disposed between each pair of adjacent nns for damping vibration of said fins. Eachrubber-'like member IB comprises a nat annular margin portion I-8 'with 4a central circular portion or button 20 projecting from one side of said member and adapted to extend into a fin hole I4 of the adjacent n I2. The other side of each member t6 is provided with a circular recess 22- disposed concentric with and opposite -to `said projecting portion or button. 20.

ln its free condition, that is, in the absence of external forces other than gravity, the thickness of the annular 4flat margin I8 of each meme ber r6 is larger than the width of the spaces between the ns into which `said member is to be disposed. For example'wth the width of the space between the ns equal to 0.080, it has been found satisfactory to make the thickness of the flat margin I8 of each rubber I6 equal to 0.084. With these dimensions, the flat margin portion I8 yof each member I6 is compressed when placed between a pair Aof iins whereby said member is eiective to dampen vvibration of said fins.

The diameter .of each damper member button 20 should at least be slightly smaller than the diameter -of the fin hole I4 into which said button is -to extend in order that said Ebutton readily snaps into its fin hole when placed in alinement therewith. lObviously, if, as illustrated, the fin holes I4 are not perpendicular to the surfaces of their respective hns, this must be taken into account in `order that the buttons 20 of the nn damper members I6 snap readily into said holes upon alinement therewith. For example with the arrangementillustrated if the fin holes I4 are drilled r"to a diameter of 0.205 it has been found VSatisfactory to make the diameter of each button -20 equal to 0.184". `The circular recess 22 of each rubber-like damper member I8 preferably has a diameter which ,iS .larger than 'the diameter of its associated projecting 'portion or button '2U and has and/or removal of said member `from between a,

pair of iins.

Each of the rubber-like damper membersl is forceably inserted and pushed between a pair of ns by means of a suitable tool. When the button 20 of said damper memberV I6 comes into alinement with the hole I4 in the adjacent n I 2,

said button immediately snaps into said hole to` lock the damper member in position between said pair of iins. Thus each button 20 and cooperating fin hole I4 act as cooperating tongue and recess formations to restrain the damper members I6 against lateral movement relative to the iins. Sincethe margin portion I8 of each iin damper member I6 in its free condition, has a width larger than the width of the space between the iins in which said member is disposed, the margin portion I8 of each iin damper member I6 is in compression between its pair of adjacent ns whereby said members are effective to dampen vibrations of the ns. Each damper member I6 can be-removed by a suitable hook adapted to be inserted between the iins and partly around said member. With such a hook, a damper member can readily be pulledv out from between its pair of ns, the button 20 of said member being forced into a recess 22 of said member.

As illustrated the length or height of each button 20 is slightly less than the thickness of the fins I2. VThis button height has been determined by the depth of the associated recess 22, said height being made less than said depth in order that said button can readily be displaced into said recess. If, however, the Space between the fins were larger than that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 then-the recess 22 could be made deeper and each button 20 could be made longer to such an extent that the button on one ldamper member projects into the recess of the adjacent damper member. -Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figure 4. In Figure 4, the ns are like those illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 except every other` iin has been eliminated, the remaining ns being designated by reference character I2a and, like the ns I2, the iins I2a have holes I4 therethrough. Thus in Figure 4 the space between a pair of adjacent ns I2a is slightly more than twice the space between a pair of adjacent fins I2. Fin damper members Ita of rubber-like material are disposed in position between the fins I2a.- The free thickness of each iin damper member margin portion Isa is larger than its, associated inter-fin space whereby said margin portionis in compression when placed in position between a pair of ns I2a. As illustrated, the primary difference between the fin damper members Ia and I5 is that the button 20a of each. n damper member |661. is made longer than the buttons 20a of the damper member I6 so that each button 20a projects into the recess 22a of the adjacent iin damper member. With this arrangement of Figure 4 each n damper member Ia vis held in position not only with the adjacent n l2a but also .fby the interlocking engagement of said button with the adjacent in damper member. Accordingly, with the arrangement of Figure 4 the nn damper members are more effectively locked in position between the adjacent fins.

As in the case of the damper members I6 the recess 22a of each iin damper member IIa may have a depth which is larger than the length of its associated button 20a so that said button can readily be displaced into said recess to facilitate removal and insertion of said fin damper member. However, if each damper member IB or Ia i is quite thickcompared to the length of its button 20 or 20a., it may be possible to depress said button quite readily down to the surface of the adjacent margin portion I8 or Isa of said damper member even lin the absence of any damper member recess 22 or 22a opposite to said button. If this is the case, the recess 22 or 22a of each damper member could be eliminated.

The damper members I6 and 16a provide simple construction for damping vibration of the fins projecting from a heat exchange body.y No modification of the ns is necessary except for drilling holes IG in said ns and the damper members I6 can readily be installed and replaced. The margin portion I8 or ISa of each damper member can be made as wide as desired in order to provide suiicient area of contact with the adjacent ns so as to adequately dampen Vibration of said fins,

While I have described my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvous to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appended claimsrto cover all such modifications.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination; a body having a pair of heat exchange fins projecting therefrom, one of said i-lns having a hole; and a member of rubberlike material having a iirst portion disposed in compression between said fins, said member having a second portion projecting from one side into said hole for holding said member in position between said ns.

2. In combination; a body having a pair of heat exchange ns projecting therefrom, one of said iins having a hole; and a member of rubber-like materiall having a rst portion disposed in colmpression between said ns, said member having a second portion projecting from one side into said hole forV holding said member in position between -said iins, said member also having a recess on its other side opposite to said projecting portion, said recess being at least as large as said projecting portion whereby said member can readily be vdeformed by displacing said projecting portion into said recess to facilitate positioning of said member between said ns.

. 3. lIn combination; a body having a pair of heat exchange iins projecting therefrom, one of said ns having a hole; and a member of rubber-like material having a margin portion disposed in compression between said ns and having a central portion projecting from one side of said memberl into said hoie.

4. In combination; a body having a pair of heat exchange fins projecting therefrom, one of said iins having a hole; and a member of rubberlike material having a flat margin portion dis` posed in compression between said ns and hav-` Dythe Vinterlocking engagementof button 20a 75, ing a central portion projecting kfrom one side" of said member into said hole, said member also having a recess on its other side opposite said projecting portion.

5. In combination; a body having a pair of heat exchange ns projecting therefrom, one of said fins having a hole; and a member of rubberlike material having a margin portion disposed in compression between said iins and having a central portion projecting from one side of said member into said hole, said member also having a recess on its other side opposite to said projecting portion, said recess being at least as large as said projecting portion whereby said member can readily be deformed by displacing said projecting portion into said recess to facilitate positioning of said member between said fins.

6. In combination; a body having a plurality of heat exchange ns projecting therefrom, each of said iins having a hole therethrough co-axially alined with the corresponding holes in the adjacent fins; and a plurality of members of rubber-like material, one for each pair of adjacent fins, each of said members having a rst portion disposed in compression between its associated pair of fins and having a second portion projecting from one side of said member into said hole in the n adjacent to said side for releasably holding said member in position between said iins.

7. In combination; a body having a plurality of heat exchange ns projecting therefrom, each of said ns having a hole therethrough co-axially alined with the corresponding holes in the adjacent fins; and a plurality of members of rubber-like material, one for each pair of adjacent ns, each of said members having a first portion disposed in compression between its associated pair of ns and having a second portion projecting from one side of said member into said hole in the n adjacent to said side for releasably holding said member in position between said fins, each of said members also having a recess disposed on its other side opposite to the projecting portion of said member and being at least as large as said projecting portion whereby said member can readily be deformed by displacing said projecting portion into said recess to facilitate positioning of said member between said iins.

8. In combination; a body having a plurality of heat exchange fins projecting therefrom, each of said iins having a hole therethrough co-axially alined with the corresponding holes in the adjacent ns; and a plurality of members of rubber-like material, one for each pair of adjacent fins, each of said members having a rst portion disposed in compression between its associated pair of ns and having a second portion projecting from one side of said member into said hole in the n adjacent to said side for releasably holding said member in position between said ns, each of said members also having a recess disposed on its other side opposite to the projecting portion of said member and each said projecting portion having a length suflcient to extend beyond the remote side of the adjacent n into the recess of the adjacent rubber-like member.

9. In combination; a body having a plurality of heat exchange fins projecting therefrom, each of said iins having a hole therethrough co-axially alined with the corresponding holes in the adjacent ns; and a plurality of substantially coaxially disposed members of rubber-like material, one for each pair of adjacent fins, each of said members having a ilat annular margin portion disposed in compression between its associated pair of ns and having a central portion projecting from one side of said member into said hole in the n adjacent to said side for releasably holding said member in position between said ns.

10. In combination; a body having a plurality of heat exchange fins projecting therefrom, each of said ns having a hole therethrough co-axially alined with the corresponding holes in the adjacent ns; and a plurality of substantially coaxially disposed members of rubber-like material, one for each pair of adjacent ns, each of said members having a flat annular margin portion disposed in compression between its associated pair of ns and having a central portion projecting from one side of said member into said hole in the fin adjacent to said side for releasably holding said member in position between said fins, each of said members also having a recess disposed on its other side opposite to the projecting portion of said member and being at least as large as said projecting portion whereby said member can readily be deformed by displacing said projecting portion into said recess to facilitate positioning of said member between said nns.

' GEORGE I-I. KELLER.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,899,324 `Griswold Feb. 28, 1933 1,940,598 Larkin Dec. 19, 1933 2,396,363 Du Bois et al Mar. 12:, 1946 2,512,735 Beier June 27, 1950 2,518,675 Francisco, Jr. Aug. 15, 1950 

